Doorjamb switch

ABSTRACT

A doorjamb switch includes an annular housing comprised of an annular support portion and an annular flexible portion. Interlocking flanges on the portions cooperate to secure the portions to each other and assemble the housing. In one embodiment, the support portion includes an annular contact receptacle which receives a generally planar first contact and a disklike second contact separated by an insulating washer. Upon assembly of the housing, an annular mounting surface of the flexible portion engages the periphery of the first contact and seats the periphery of the second contact of an annular mounting surface of the support portion. The first contact is fixed with respect to the support portion and the periphery of the second contact is slidable between the insulating washer and the surface of the support portion. As mounted, the second contact is concave and has a central projection received within central apertures of the insulating washer and the first contact. The concavity of the second contact biases the central projection into engagement with the first contact to close the switch. A central portion of the flexible portion is engageable by a door during closing movement to flex the central portion and cause it to abut the central projection of the second contact. This increases the concavity of the second contact and moves it out of engagement with the first contact to open the switch. The periphery of the second contact slides between the washer and the surface of the support portion when the concavity of the second contact is increased. An outer protective flange on the flexible portion prevents excessive flexing of the flexible portion and possible damage to the contacts. In another embodiment, a housing includes a flexible portion that acts on peripheral portions of a concave disklike contact to decrease the concavity thereof and move the disklike contact out of engagement with a fixed contact.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Patsy De Vincent;

Sidney G. Dunford, both of Dayton, Ohio [21] Appl. No. 33,310 [22] FiledApr. 30, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 9, 1971 [7 3] Assignee General MotorsCorporation Detroit, Mich.

154 DOORJAMB swircn 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 200/159 B, 200/67 DB [51] Int. Cl ..H0lh 13/48, H01h 13/06,H01h l3/52 [50] Field of Search 200/159 R, 159 A, 159 B, 67 DA, 67 DB,86 R, 61.78, 61.81

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,409,483 10/1946 Gandelot2001159 B FOREIGN PATENTS 1,030,050 6/ 1953 France 200/159 R 1,352,256l/ 1964 France 200/67 DB 1,056,410 l/1967 Great Britain 200/159 BPrimary ExaminerH. 0. Jones Assistant Examiner-Robert A. VanderhyeAttorneys-W. E. Finken and Herbert Furman ABSTRACT: A doorjamb switchincludes an annular housing comprised of an annular support portion andan annular flexible portion. Interlocking flanges on the portionscooperate to secure the portions to each other and assemble the housing.In one embodiment, the support portion includes an annular contactreceptacle which receives a generally planar first contact and adisklike second contact separated by an insulating washer. Upon assemblyof the housing, an annular mounting surface of the flexible portionengages the periphery of the first contact and seats the periphery ofthe second contact of an annular mounting surface of the supportportion. The first contact is fixed with respect to the support portionand the periphery of the second contact is slidable between theinsulating washer and the surface of the support portion. As mounted,the second contact is concave and has a central projection receivedwithin central apertures of the insulating washer and the first contact.The concavity of the second contact biases the central projection intoengagement with the first contact to close the switch. A central portionof the flexible portion is engageable by a door during closing movementto flex the central portion and cause it to abut the central projectionof the second contact. This increases the concavity of the secondcontact and moves it out of engagement with the first contact to openthe switch. The periphery of the second contact slides between thewasher and the surface of the support portion when the concavity of thesecond contact is increased. An outer protective flange on the flexibleportion prevents excessive flexing of the flexible portion and possibledamage to the contacts. In another embodiment, a housing includes aflexible portion that acts on peripheral portions of a concave disklikecontact to decrease the concavity thereof and move the disklike contactout of engagement with a fixed contact.

PAIENTEDuuv 9 l9?! 3.619.530

sum 1 or 2 I BY Szdzzey G'flan/bra' NW W AT TORNE Y PATENTEDNBV 9 I911SHEET 2 BF 2 [NS/away & flanfbra' A MM MM ATTORNEY DOORJAMB swn'cu Thisinvention relates to doorjamb switches.

Vehicles conventionally include doorjamb switches for controllinginterior lights and other accessories. These switches are normallyclosed when the vehicle doors are open and are open when the vehicledoors are closed. Thus, the switches allow lighting and operation ofother accessories when passengers are entering or leaving the vehicles.

This invention provides such a switch in which the opening and closingof the switch is accomplished by varying the concavity of a concavedisklike contact to move the contact into and out of engagement with astationary contact.

An object of this invention is to provide a doorjamb switch having afixed first contact and a concave disklike second contact normallyengageable with the first contact and movable out of engagementtherewith upon variance of the concavity of the second contact.

In carrying out this object, use is made of two different switchembodiments.

In one preferred embodiment, a concave disklike contact has a centralprojection which normally engages the edge of an aperture in astationary contact to close the switch. A flexible portion of the switchhousing abuts the central projection to increase the concavity of thedisklike contact and thus move the central projection out of engagementwith the stationary contact to thereby open the switch.

Another embodiment includes a concave disklike contact that has opposedperipheral portions mounted within a flexible portion of the switchhousing. The flexible portion acts on the peripheral portions of thedisklike contact to decrease the concavity thereof and move the disklikecontact out of engagement with a stationary contact to thereby open theswitch.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a side sectional view of an embodiment of a switch accordingto the invention with the switch closed;

FIG. 2 is an elevated end view of the switch partially broken away;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the switch open;

FIG. 5 is a disassembled perspective view partially cut away;

FIG. 6 is a side sectional of another embodiment with the switch closed;

FIG. 7 is a sectional end view of the switch shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the switch FIG. 9 is adisassembled perspective view of the switch; and

FIG. 10 is a partially broken away view of an adjustable embodiment. 7

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, a doorjamb switch 12 includes an annularhousing 14 having an annular support portion 16 and an annular flexibleportion 18. The flexible portion 18 includes an annular supportreceptacle 20 and the support portion 16 includes an annular flange 22at one end thereof. Upon assembly of the housing 14, the flexibleportion 18 is deformed and receives the annular flange 22 within thesupport receptacle 20. Annular interlocking flanges 24 and 26 on thesupport portion 16 and the flexible portion 18 respectively cooperate tosecure the portions 16 and 18 to each other.

Switch 12 is mounted on a vehicle body by axially inserting the supportportion 16 through an aperture 28 in a doorjamb 30 to locate annularmounting flanges 32 and 34 of portions 18 and 16 respectively onopposite sides of the door jamb 30. The mounting flanges 32 and 34resiliently engage the doorjamb 30 to mount the switch 12 thereon.

The support portion 16 includes a contact receptacle 36 defined by theannular flange 22, a generally dishlike surface 38, and a generallyannular mounting surface 40. Adjacent the contact receptacle 36, firstand second circumferentially opposed grooves 42 and 44 in supportportion 16 communicate with an axial bore 46. First and second disklikecontacts 48 and 50 are received within the contact receptacle 36. Aterminal leg 52 of contact 50 is received within the second groove 44,and a wire 54 secured to leg 52 extends outwardly of the switch 12through the bore 46. A stamped central pro- 5 jection 56 of contact 50projects within a central aperture 58 in a peripherally flangedinsulating washer 60 which receives the contact 48 and separates contact48 from the contact 50. The edge of a central aperture 62 of contact 48is engaged by the central projection 56 of contact 50 to electricallyconnect contacts 48 and 50. Washer 60 and contact 50 havecircumferential apertures 64 and 66 that accommodate a wire 68 attachedat 70 to the contact 48. The wire 68 is received within the first groove42 and extends outwardly of the switch 12 through bore 46. Wires 54 and68 are conventionally connected across a source of power.

An annular mounting surface 72 of the flexible portion 18 engages theperiphery of contact 48 to seat the periphery of contact 50 on themounting surface 40. The mounting surfaces 40 and 72 thus cooperate tomount the contacts 48 and 50 in the housing 14, with the periphery ofcontact 50 being slidable relative to surface 40 and the periphery ofwasher 60, and with the contact 48 being fixed with respect to supportportion 16. Normally contact 50 is less concave than as shown but theengagement of the central projection 56 of contact 50 with the edge ofthe aperture 62 of contact 48 causes the concavity of contact 50 to beslightly increased.

Referring to FIG. 4, after the assembled switch 12 is mounted on thedoorjamb 30, the apex of the outer conically actuating surface 74 of theflexible portion 18 is engaged by a door portion 76 during closing ofthe door. This causes the central projection of the flexible portion 18to flex and move a central actuating portion 78 into engagement with thecentral projection 56 of contact 50. The central projection 56 is thusmoved axially of the housing 14 out of engagement with the contact 48 toopen the switch. The movement of the central projection 56 causes theconcavity of the contact 50 to increase and the edge portion of contact50 to slide with respect to surface 40 during the increase of theconcavity of contact 50.

It will be noted that an outer protective flange 80 prevents excessiveflexing of the central portion of the flexible portion 18 and possibledamage to the contacts 48 and 50.

Referring to FIGS. 6 through 9, a doorjamb switch generally indicated at82 includes a housing 84 having a support portion 86 and a flexibleportion 88.

The support portion 86 includes a fixed first contact 90 connected to awire 92 that extends through an axial bore 93 in support portion 86.

The flexible portion 88 includes diametrically opposed grooves 94 thatreceive opposed peripheral portions 96 of a concave disklike secondcontact 98. Diametrically opposed mounting nubs 100 of flexible portion88 cooperate with grooves 94 and a diametrical rectangular nub 102 tomount the contact 98 within the flexible portion 88. A stamped U- shapedleg 104 of contact 98 connects a wire 106 to contact 98. The wire 106 isreceived within a groove 107 that communicates with bore 93.

Upon assembly of the housing 84, an annular flange 108 is deformed suchthat the flexible portion 88 accepts an annular flange 110 of thesupport portion 86. After assembly, the annular flange 110 of supportportion 86 cooperates with flange 108 to secure the portions 86 and 88to each other with the contacts 90 and 98 in engagement with each other.The flange 110 also cooperates with nubs I00 to maintain the flexibleportion 88 in a concentric relationship with the support portion 86.

After assembly, the support portion 86 is axially inserted within anaperture 112 in a doorjamb 114. A force applied to the support portion86 causes an annular flange 113 on the support portion 86 to snap overthe edge of the jamb 114 that defines the aperture 112. The flanges 108and 113 then cooperate to mount the switch 82 on the jamb 114.

Referring to FIG. 8, during closing movement a door portion 116 engagesthe outer periphery of the flexible portion 88. This causes the nubs 100and the flexible portion 88 adjacent grooves 94 to cooperate and applycouples to the peripheral portions 96 of contact 98. These couplesdecrease the concavity of contact 98 and move the contact 98 out ofengagement with contact 90 to the position shown in FIG 8. Theperipheral portions 96 slide within the grooves 94 during the decreasein the concavity of contact 98.

Referring to FIG. 10, an adjustable embodiment includes a switch 120received within a mounting cup 122 and adjustably positioned therein bycircumferential nubs 124.

The invention thus provides doorjamb switches wherein the opening andclosing of the switches is accomplished by varying the concavity ofdisklike contacts to open and close the switches.

What is claimed is:

l. A normally closed switch comprising: a housing including a supportportion and a flexible portion; a first contact mounted within thehousing and fixed with respect to the support portion; a concavedisklike second contact having a portion of the periphery thereofslidably mounted within the housing, the second contact being integrallybiased by the concavity thereof to position a central portion thereof inengagement with the first contact thus closing the switch; and means onthe flexible portion acting on the second contact during flexing of theflexible portion to vary the concavity thereof and move the secondcontact out of central portion of engagement with the first contact toopen the switch, the portion of the periphery of the second contactsliding within the housing during the variation of the concavity of thesecond contact.

2. A normally closed switch comprising: a generally annular housingincluding a generally annular support portion and a generally annularflexible portion, the portions being secured to each other in aconcentric relationship; an annular first contact concentrically mountedwithin the housing and fixed with respect to the support portion; aconcave disklike second contact having a portion of the peripherythereof slidable mounted within the housing to concentrically positionthe second contact within the housing, the second contact beingintegrally biased by the concavity thereof to position a central portionthereof in engagement with the first contact thus closing the switch;and means on the flexible portion acting on the second contact duringflexing of the flexible portion to vary the concavity thereof and movethe central portion of the second contact out of engagement with thefirst contact thus opening the switch, the portion of the periphery ofthe second contact sliding within the housing during the variation ofthe concavity of the second contact.

3. A normally closed switch comprising: an annular housing including anannular support portion and an annular flexible portion, the portionsbeing secured to each other in a concentric relationship; an annularfirst contact mounted within the housing and fixed with respect to thesupport portion in a relationship concentric therewith, the firstcontact having a central aperture therein; a concave disklike secondcontact having a portion of the periphery thereof slidably mountedwithin the housing to concentrically position the second contact withinthe housing, the second contact having a central projection receivedwithin the aperture of the first contact and integrally biased by theconcavity of the second contact into engagement with the first contact;and a central actuating portion on the flexible portion abutting thecentral projection of the second contact during flexing of the flexibleportion to increase the concavity thereof and move .the second contactout of engagement with the first contact to open the switch, the portionof the periphery of the second contact sliding within the housing duringthe increase of the concavity of the second contact.

4. A normally closed switch comprising: a generally annular housingincluding a generally annular support portion and a generally annularflexible portion, the portions bein secured to each other in aconcentric relatlonship; an annular lrst contact mounted on the supportportion in a relationship concentric therewith; and a concave disklikesecond contact having a portion of the periphery thereof slidablemounted within the flexible portion to concentrically position thesecond contact within the housing, the second contact being integrallybiased by the concavity thereof into engagement with the first contactto close the switch, the flexible portion engaging the portion of theperiphery of the second contact during flexing of the flexible portionto decrease the concavity thereof and move the second contact out ofengagement with the first contact to open the switch, the portion of theperiphery of the second contact sliding within the flexible portionduring the decrease of the concavity of the second contact.

3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,619,530 Dated November 9, 1971 Invenmn's) Patsy DeVincent and SidneyG. Dunford It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

r In the Abstract, line 10 "contact of", should read I contact on Column3, line 28, delete "second contact out of central portion of" and insertcentral portion of the second contact out of line 39 "slidable" shouldread slidably Column 4, line 33, "slidable" should read slidably Signedand sealed this 2nd day of Hay 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETGHER, JR ROBERT GOTTSGHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. A normally closed switch comprising: a housing including a supportportion and a flexible portion; a first contact mounted within thehousing and fixed with respect to the support portion; a concavedisklike second contact having a portion of the periphery thereofslidably mounted within the housing, the second contact being integrallybiased by the concavity thereof to position a central portion thereof inengagement with the first contact thus closing the switch; and means onthe flexible portion acting on the second contact during flexing of theflexible portion to vary the concavity thereOf and move the secondcontact out of central portion of engagement with the first contact toopen the switch, the portion of the periphery of the second contactsliding within the housing during the variation of the concavity of thesecond contact.
 2. A normally closed switch comprising: a generallyannular housing including a generally annular support portion and agenerally annular flexible portion, the portions being secured to eachother in a concentric relationship; an annular first contactconcentrically mounted within the housing and fixed with respect to thesupport portion; a concave disklike second contact having a portion ofthe periphery thereof slidably mounted within the housing toconcentrically position the second contact within the housing, thesecond contact being integrally biased by the concavity thereof toposition a central portion thereof in engagement with the first contactthus closing the switch; and means on the flexible portion acting on thesecond contact during flexing of the flexible portion to vary theconcavity thereof and move the central portion of the second contact outof engagement with the first contact thus opening the switch, theportion of the periphery of the second contact sliding within thehousing during the variation of the concavity of the second contact. 3.A normally closed switch comprising: an annular housing including anannular support portion and an annular flexible portion, the portionsbeing secured to each other in a concentric relationship; an annularfirst contact mounted within the housing and fixed with respect to thesupport portion in a relationship concentric therewith, the firstcontact having a central aperture therein; a concave disklike secondcontact having a portion of the periphery thereof slidably mountedwithin the housing to concentrically position the second contact withinthe housing, the second contact having a central projection receivedwithin the aperture of the first contact and integrally biased by theconcavity of the second contact into engagement with the first contact;and a central actuating portion on the flexible portion abutting thecentral projection of the second contact during flexing of the flexibleportion to increase the concavity thereof and move the second contactout of engagement with the first contact to open the switch, the portionof the periphery of the second contact sliding within the housing duringthe increase of the concavity of the second contact.
 4. A normallyclosed switch comprising: a generally annular housing including agenerally annular support portion and a generally annular flexibleportion, the portions being secured to each other in a concentricrelationship; an annular first contact mounted on the support portion ina relationship concentric therewith; and a concave disklike secondcontact having a portion of the periphery thereof slidably mountedwithin the flexible portion to concentrically position the secondcontact within the housing, the second contact being integrally biasedby the concavity thereof into engagement with the first contact to closethe switch, the flexible portion engaging the portion of the peripheryof the second contact during flexing of the flexible portion to decreasethe concavity thereof and move the second contact out of engagement withthe first contact to open the switch, the portion of the periphery ofthe second contact sliding within the flexible portion during thedecrease of the concavity of the second contact.